How do I calculate how much cover I need?

The market value of a home is dependent on many factors, including locality, local amenities, size of plot, etc, and therefore bears no relation to the actual rebuilding costs.

You may find your home's rebuilding costs in any valuation report or survey that was carried out when you took out your mortgage.

If you do not have a survey report, you may wish to instruct a surveyor to carry out a survey for you. The Society of Chartered Surveyors will advise you of members in your area and also provide a guide to calculate rebuilding costs.

For contents insurance cover you should calculate what it would cost to replace all your items at today's prices.

If you already have home insurance in place, please refer to your renewal documents or schedule of insurance for your existing levels of cover.